Written Answers Thursday 4 February 2010

Scottish Executive

Access for People with Disabilities

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making to increase the accessibility of towns, cities and villages for people with limited mobility and whether it will consider plans to create an exemplar journey as a template for accessibility.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is increasing accessibility to towns, cities and villages through both the planning system and the provision of accessible transport. Increased accessibility is promoted using the "Shared Space" approach to road design, and in particular, Home Zones featuring street surfaces which are not physically divided by kerbs.

  While the Scottish Government does not have any immediate plans to create exemplar journeys in towns, cities and villages across Scotland, Traveline Scotland provides up to date details on any public transport journey within Scotland, including comprehensive information on the mobility and access aspects of the journey.

Alcohol and Drug Misuse

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to tackle alcohol and drug misuse in schools.

Michael Russell: All children and young people should have access to reliable, credible and appropriate information about drugs, alcohol and tobacco develop a knowledge and understanding of the use and misuse of a variety of substances, including alcohol, throughout their education.

  Curriculum for Excellence, Health and Wellbeing experiences and outcomes provides teachers with opportunities to develop young people’s awareness of alcohol, drugs, tobacco and other substances and the associated harm and risks to health. Teachers are expected to help children and young people make healthy and responsible choices in exploring these issues and the impact of life choices.

  Schools can and do make a difference in educating young people about the dangers of alcohol and drug misuse, but they cannot do it on their own. Multi-agency partnerships have an important role in educating young people about the dangers of risk taking behaviour.

Bridges

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the appropriateness of peak-time traffic lights on the Kessock Bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: Traffic lights can reduce delays and improve safety at junctions and are also used to control traffic when reducing two lanes to one lane. Installing peak-time traffic lights on the Kessock Bridge or in connection with the proposed resurfacing works do not fall under either of these categories and would not be appropriate.

Bridges

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on (a) tourism, (b) business and commerce and (c) accident rates during the resurfacing of the Kessock Bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: The proposed design and traffic management arrangements for the resurfacing works, which are estimated to start in Spring 2011, are currently underway. As part of that process Scotland Transerv, the Trunk Road Operating Company, that is taking forward the scheme on behalf of Transport Scotland will consult with a range of stakeholders, including locally-based tourism organisations and businesses on the timing and nature of the works to minimise any impact on their interests.

  The traffic management layout for the works will be designed in accordance with UK standards and a speed restriction will apply for the safety of road users and operatives working on site. Road Safety Audits of the traffic management will also be carried out before and after the works.

Cancer

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost would be of providing free prescriptions for cancer patients in 2010-11, broken down by NHS board area.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost would have been of providing free prescriptions for cancer patients in 2009-10, broken down by NHS board area.

Shona Robison: The information required to answer this question is not held centrally. Actual costs would depend on the definition and criteria used to determine eligibility as well as uptake of the exemption following any change to the list of eligible conditions.

  However, this government believes that patients suffering any conditions not currently exempt from paying for prescriptions should benefit in the same way at the same time. For this reason, as well as many others, the government’s view remains that the fairest policy is to abolish charges for all patients – no matter what condition they suffer from - on 1 April 2011. Cuts so far of over 60% in the price of PPCs and over 40% in the price of single prescriptions are delivering very real benefit to all patients who pay for their prescriptions including all those with long-term conditions, including cancer.

Communities

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in Fife in each year since 2005.

Fergus Ewing: Statistics on the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued to adults and under 16s between 1 October 2004 and 31 March 2008, by local authority area, can be found on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk .

  Information on the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued since 31 March 2008 is not held centrally.

Communities

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken to assess the impact of its safer streets initiative.

Fergus Ewing: Early indications show that the safer streets initiative has been very effective in reducing violent crime and antisocial behaviour.

  Community Safety Partnerships will each submit evaluation reports on the effect that the safer streets initiative has had over the festive period. We expect to receive these reports in April.

Credit Unions

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing for the establishment of credit unions in schools.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Centre for Financial Education is actively encouraging pupils’ understanding of the role of credit unions through the provision of teacher support materials, training events and conferences. The credit union movement is represented on the National Numeracy Network’s Financial Education Strategy Review Group.

Credit Unions

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of secondary school pupils has access to a school-based credit union savings scheme.

Michael Russell: This information is not held centrally.

Defence

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Joint Warrior military exercises held off Scotland’s west coast in May and October 2009 operated in any environmentally sensitive conservation zones containing (a) protected marine habitats, (b) seabird breeding grounds and (c) protected fauna and flora and what precautions were taken to ensure that the exercises did not damage the environment or harm wildlife.

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what precautions were taken to ensure that any sonar devices deployed or operated during the Joint Warrior military exercises held off Scotland’s west coast in May to October 2009 did not harm resident or migrating cetaceans and what monitoring was undertaken to record potential or actual impacts.

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what precautions were taken to ensure that any weapons deployed or operated during the Joint Warrior military exercise held off Scotland’s west coast in May to October 2009 did not negatively impact on either marine or terrestrial wildlife in the area and what monitoring was undertaken to record potential or actual impacts.

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the environmental impacts of the biannual Joint Warrior military exercises off Scotland’s west coast are measured and, if so, what these were in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009 and what they are anticipated to be in 2010.

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the carbon footprints of the biannual Joint Warrior military exercises off Scotland’s west coast are measured and, if so, what these were in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009 and what they are anticipated to be in 2010.

Richard Lochhead: All matters relating to the defence of the United Kingdom remain the direct responsibility of the UK Government. Naval exercises are therefore a reserved matter which falls within the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The MoD is the competent authority for ensuring that the Joint Warrior exercise complies with the provisions of The Conservation Regulations 1994, The Offshore Marine Conservation Regulations 2007 and any climate change objectives. The MoD liaise with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee

  (JNCC) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) about their plans and are responsible for mitigation measures to ensure that any potential environmental impact is minimised.

Education

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the cancellation by Highland Council of a visit to Craggan Outdoors by pupils at Crown Primary School because of the exclusion of a disabled child.

Adam Ingram: Scottish ministers recognise the challenges for education authorities and schools in balancing the varying needs of all children, including those who are disabled. Ultimately, this is a matter for Highland Council who must comply with their legislative responsibilities including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001).

Education

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how Skills Development Scotland is promoting greater understanding of co-operative business models among young people.

Keith Brown: The Co-operative Education Trust Scotland (CETS) provides a unique service to schools in Scotland called Co-operate to Succeed (CtS). CtS supports the Determined to Succeed strategy, to bring the attributes of a co-operative approach to enterprise in education. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) do provide some limited education/business services, for example in Stock Market Challenge http://www.stockmarketchallenge.co.uk/ , but are not involved in promoting the understanding of co-operative business models.

  The Scottish Government provided £60,000 funding for Co-operative Education Trust Scotland (CETS), during its two-year pilot stage (July 2005-2007) to support the work and future development of educational resources under its "Co-operate to Succeed" banner.

Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a review of progress made on the Curriculum for Excellence from the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board following the request from the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, as noted in his letter of 8 January 2010 entitled Taking Forward Curriculum for Excellence, and whether it will be made available to the public.

Michael Russell: I wrote to the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board on 8 January 2010 asking it to review progress and report its findings to me as we work towards full adoption of Curriculum for Excellence. Its next meeting is on 25 February 2010 and I expect its report shortly thereafter.

Education

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken research into educational benefits obtained by children receiving Gaelic medium education compared with children educated in English, other than being able to communicate in Gaelic.

Michael Russell: The, then Scottish Executive published a study in 1999 which looked at the attainments of pupils receiving Gaelic medium primary education in Scotland. The research team was led by Professor Richard Johnstone. More recently, Bòrd na Gàidhlig has commissioned research on the Output of Gaelic Education. This study will seek to update the 1999 study and also explore other areas of context and achievement. This study will be carried out by a team at the University of Edinburgh.

Education

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, given the recent study by the Institute of Fiscal Studies suggesting that having a laptop at home could lead to a two-grade improvement in one subject at GCSE, whether it will introduce a scheme similar to the £300 million Home Access scheme that will benefit 270,000 families in England.

Michael Russell: We recognise the important role of technology in addressing some of the barriers to engagement and attainment in education.

  The Scottish Government is adopting a comprehensive approach to the delivery of sustainable educational benefits and change for those most in need. This includes provision of the national education platform known as Glow, serving a potential user base of 1.5 million; development of national and user generated digital content; a collaborative national procurement framework to enable local authorities to purchase ICT equipment at competitive prices; promotion of games based learning, and a review of Scotland’s previous digital inclusion strategy.

Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to prevent the closure of Castle Toward as a residential facility for outdoor pursuits and courses in the expressive arts.

Michael Russell: It is for Argyll and Bute Council to consider what the best interests and actions are in relation to Castle Toward. I understand that the council and Actual Reality, the operator, have held positive discussions about the reopening of the facility and its future ownership.

Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) correspondence and (b) discussions ministers have had with Argyll and Bute Council regarding the proposed closure of Castle Toward.

Michael Russell: Ministers have had no correspondence or discussions with Argyll and Bute about the proposed closure of Castle Toward. I refer the member to the question to S3W-31095 on 4 February 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to support outdoor education and, in particular, to sustain facilities such as Castle Toward.

Michael Russell: Our vision for Scotland is that our children and young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens. The outdoor environment has massive potential to help us achieve this vision. That is why we are investing in the production and promotion of guidance and an online resource to support opportunities presented by the new curriculum for learning in the outdoors. This work has been taken forward on behalf of the Outdoor Learning Strategic Advisory Group and Learning and Teaching Scotland. The guidance and online resource will be launched in spring 2010.

  The Scottish Government has released £1.6 million to support a Justice Department targeted intervention scheme that will include use of the outdoors to turn round the lives of some of our most vulnerable young people. Details of the programme will be announced soon.

  There is a wide range of facilities such as Castle Toward across Scotland which are both local authority and privately owned and it is not for the Scottish Government to intervene in the administration and upkeep of all of these.

Electricity

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions have been attached to the granting of planning consent to mitigate the environmental impact of the Beauly to Denny overhead power line through the Cairngorms National Park.

Jim Mather: The information requested by the member is contained in the Beauly Denny consent document, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49996).

Electricity

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to undergrounding the Beauly to Denny overhead power line through the Cairngorms National Park.

Jim Mather: Strategic alternatives to the overhead line, including undergrounding, were the subject of a great deal of evidence submitted to the Beauly Denny Public Local Inquiry. Evidence regarding the economic and technical feasibility of undergrounding was considered by the appointed Technical Assessor.

  Local issues in respect of the Cairngorms National Park were considered at the Newtonmore local session of the Inquiry, and the findings of which are discussed in Volume 3 of the Inquiry Report. The reporters conclude that "In certain locations the damage to habitats (including certain bird habitats) would be substantially greater if the line was undergrounded".

  Ultimately, at para 9.7.15 of Volume 3 the reporters conclude that "overall, the case put forward by objectors for alternative routeing and/or undergrounding a section or sections of the proposed line in the Cairngorms National Park has not been justified".

  To mitigate the cumulative visual impact of the wirescape in the Cairngorms National Park, I have imposed a condition in the consent that requires the developers to submit proposals which must include the removal, or improvement of, sections of existing 132kV overhead line and associated apparatus within the Park. The total length of overhead line removed or improved within the Cairngorms National Park will be around 63km.

Electricity

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the use of new technologies in relation to the Beauly to Denny power line to mitigate its environmental effects on the Cairngorms National Park, such as cross-linked polyethylene to provide underground power supply.

Jim Mather: In respect of technical evidence considered at the Inquiry, a Technical Assessor was appointed to consider the evidence on matters such as underground alternatives. I refer the member to his report, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50006), in which evidence regarding a number of strategic alternatives including undergrounding is discussed at Items 2.2 and 2.4. Evidence regarding technologies such High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) and Cross Linked PolyEthylene (XLPE) was considered in this context.

  Ultimately, however, the reporters conclude that "overall, the case put forward by objectors for alternative routeing and/or undergrounding a section or sections of the proposed line in the Cairngorms National Park has not been justified".

Employment

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to promote groundskeeping through continued professional development, apprenticeships and careers services for young people.

Keith Brown: Groundskeeping is one of a number of specialised subjects covered within the framework of the Amenity Horticulture Modern Apprenticeship. There are currently 150 apprentices in training, 24 of whom began this year.

  Training provision for groundskeeping in Scotland is informed by Lantra, Sector Skills Council, responsible for promoting skills and careers within environmental and land based industries.

Energy Efficiency

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30390 by Jim Mather on 18 January 2010, on what date it will publish its final energy efficiency action plan.

Jim Mather: We have appointed consultants to independently analyse the 492 responses we received to our recent consultation on an Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland. We expect the consultants to submit a summary of responses to the Scottish Government in March.

  In parallel, officials will continue to develop the final action plan which will be published in late spring.

Enterprise

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost has been of the Small Business Gateway since its creation.

Jim Mather: The Small Business Gateway (SBS), and its successor the Business Gateway (BG), was an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise until April 2008. At that date responsibility for BG local delivery contracts, in lowland Scotland, transferred to 12 lead local authorities. In April 2009 the BG was introduced in the Highlands and Islands with local authorities across the area having responsibility for its local delivery from the outset.

  Also during 2009, responsibility for delivery of the BG national marketing, performance management and management of stakeholder liaison functions was transferred from Scottish Enterprise to COSLA operating on behalf of Scotland’s local authorities. The Business Gateway national website and national telephone enquiry fulfilment service remain operational matters for Scottish Enterprise.

  I will ask Scottish Enterprise’s Chief Executive to write to you with regard to those matters for which it had, and retains operational responsibility.

  Local authority budget allocation spend is a matter for individual councils and I would suggest that you contact the relevant local authorities (detailed below) and COSLA to obtain the data relating to their BG operational responsibilities.

  Local authorities managing BG local delivery contracts or providing local BG delivery are:

  Aberdeenshire Council

  Argyll and Bute Council

  City of Edinburgh Council

  Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

  Dumfries and Galloway Council

  Dundee City Council

  Falkirk Council

  Fife Council

  Glasgow City Council

  Moray Council

  North Ayrshire Council

  North Lanarkshire Council

  Orkney Islands Council

  Renfrewshire Council

  Scottish Borders Council

  Shetlands Islands Council

  The Highland Council

  West Dunbartonshire Council.

Enterprise

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many members of staff are employed by the Small Business Gateway.

Jim Mather: Delivery of the Business Gateway (BG) national website and telephone enquiry fulfilment service is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its chief executive to write to you in this regard.

  Business Gateway local delivery is an operational matter for 12 lead local authorities in lowland Scotland and local authorities across the Highlands and Islands. Local authorities also have responsibility for the delivery of the BG national marketing, performance management and management of stakeholder liaison functions via operational arrangements with COSLA. I would suggest that you contact those relevant local authorities (detailed below) and COSLA regarding this data.

  Local authorities managing BG local delivery contracts or providing local BG delivery are:

  Aberdeenshire Council

  Argyll and Bute Council

  City of Edinburgh Council

  Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

  Dumfries and Galloway Council

  Dundee City Council

  Falkirk Council

  Fife Council

  Glasgow City Council

  Moray Council

  North Ayrshire Council

  North Lanarkshire Council

  Orkney Islands Council

  Renfrewshire Council

  Scottish Borders Council

  Shetlands Islands Council

  The Highland Council

  West Dunbartonshire Council.

Financial Services Sector

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23602 by Jim Mather on 20 May 2009, whether the retail sector has increased its commitment to accepting the euro in everyday transactions.

Jim Mather: Discussions with the Scottish Retail Consortium indicate that an increasing number of retailers recognise the commercial advantage of accepting euros from customers. These include most of the large retail chains, in addition to substantial numbers of hotels and other businesses dealing with visitors from Europe. In addition, Historic Scotland has been accepting euros from visitors to its sites for many years. As more and more retailers and other businesses in areas with substantial numbers of European visitors accept the euro, it is hoped that other businesses will make the commercial decision to do so.

Forth Crossing

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what visits Scottish ministers have made to areas affected by the Forth Replacement Crossing project since May 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: Ministers have visited areas affected by the Forth Replacement Crossing on a number of occasions.

Further Education

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria the Scottish Funding Council uses in allocating funding for strategic growth to colleges.

Keith Brown: The allocation of funding to individual colleges is a matter exclusively for the Scottish Funding Council and not ministers. In general terms we expect the funding council to take funding decisions in a way which supports its statutory duty to secure the coherent provision of high quality further and higher education. I will ask the chief executive of the funding council to write to the member setting out its policy on this matter.

General Practitioners

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it has issued to GP practices regarding their charging policy for letters to social work departments that have requested information on patient medical requirements.

Nicola Sturgeon: We have not issued detailed guidance to GP practices on the above.

  We have however, advised Medical Practitioners that fees for letters etc are no longer negotiated at national level and that they should approach the local authority to establish and agree their own fee(s) in advance of undertaking any work.

  We further advised GPs, health boards etc that details on Collaborate arrangements for such fees can be viewed on the website of the British Medical Association (BMA).

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish all documents relating to its decision to cancel the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

Stewart Stevenson: As we have previously stated the level of information that this government has made publicly available is entirely consistent with the arrangements put in place by previous administrations and we do not propose to change this.

  We have provided this Parliament with details of the three-year capital programme, plus broader indications including: 10-year figures; three-year proposals; three-year revisions; all of which are subject to performance.

  We consider the range of information that we have already put into the public domain to be substantial and that it therefore provides this Parliament with a comprehensive basis upon which to consider our budget proposals.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the criteria it used in deciding whether to cancel the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-8133 on 8 October 2009. The answer to the Oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the official report can be viewed at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1008-02.htm#Col20422.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gave to the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance in deciding whether to cancel the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

Stewart Stevenson: The Glasgow Airport Rail Link project has been subject to Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) appraisal during its development.

  As we have stated previously the overriding criteria which resulted in our decision to cancel the branch line element of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Project were the significant pressures which arose in our budget for 2010-11, including budget reductions imposed upon us by the UK Government, and the expectation that this pressure would grow. It is essential that all projects are affordable and all budgets sustainable.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered reinstating the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project in light of the thgRAIL report, NEWGARL - a strategy for the completion of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the proposals and information in the thgRAIL report, NEWGARL - a strategy for the completion of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

Stewart Stevenson: The overriding factor which resulted in our reluctant decision to cancel the branch line element of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Project was the significant pressures which arose in our budget for 2010-11, including budget reductions imposed upon us by the UK Government, and the expectation that this pressure would grow in subsequent years.

  We have reviewed the current "NEWGARL" proposals from thgRail, which would appear to be a rebranding of its previous proposal for a heavy rail link to Glasgow airport. It is essential that all projects are affordable and all budgets sustainable, and there is nothing within the proposal which addresses this issue satisfactorily. Therefore we do not consider that it would provide any basis for the reinstatement of the branch line element of the GARL project.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link under the Tier 2 scheme and approved by the Office of Rail Regulation has been reallocated and, if so, to where.

Stewart Stevenson: The funding for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) project in the Tier 2 element of the Scottish rail High Level Output Specification relates principally to the works at Glasgow Central Station and on the Paisley Corridor to be delivered by Network Rail. These works are still to proceed, and so there has been no reallocation of funding.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much public money has been spent on the Glasgow Airport Rail Link to date and what additional direct or indirect costs could arise from its cancellation.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27501 on 25 September 2009, which sets out the costs incurred up until September 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  Since September 2009 until the end of the last reporting period (10 January 2010) a further £12.2 million has been spent, of which £9.15 million is attributable to the ongoing Paisley Corridor Improvement works.

  Transport Scotland is working through an assessment of the cost of cancellation for the Branch Line element of the GARL project, including an assessment of any potential resale value of land. Accordingly, the estimated capital expenditure from the start of the current reporting period (11 January 2010) to close out which, includes provision for additional direct and indirect costs, is estimated at £11.35 million.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what current or proposed rail projects have a higher benefit cost ratio than the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

Stewart Stevenson: The current and proposed rail projects with a higher benefit cost ratio than the Glasgow Rail Link are: the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvements Programme: Airdrie to Bathgate; Borders, and Edinburgh Trams.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the potential cost savings to the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project of rerouting the bridge crossing the M8 around the fuel farm serving Glasgow Airport.

Stewart Stevenson: The change to such a route would not be consistent with the powers of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Act (2007) and therefore is not considered to be a realistic alternative at this stage. In the absence of the scrutiny which securing powers requires it is not reasonable to be confident about the scale of cost savings claimed.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the public policy purposes are of the (a) Paisley Corridor Renewal and (b) additional platform capacity at Glasgow Central Station work, both originally approved to support the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project.

Stewart Stevenson: The Paisley Corridor Renewal is a Network Rail planned project to renew the existing signalling on the Glasgow to Paisley rail corridor which has become life expired. It is appropriate that the equipment is renewed in a manner which caters for anticipated growth in rail demand.

  All of this work must be considered within the context of this government’s investment in the railway network which, through a combination of capacity enhancements, essential renewals works and the introduction of new electric rolling stock will improve:

  The length of trains to address overcrowding;

  The robustness of service;

  Punctuality, and

  Capacity at the busiest station in Scotland (Glasgow Central).

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the cancellation of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link has cost in terms of the loss of economies of scale.

Stewart Stevenson: The cancellation of the Branch Line element of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link has not resulted in any loss of economies of scale.

  The reason for this is that the identified economies of scale were associated with the integration of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link and Paisley Corridor Renewals projects on the existing main line between Glasgow Central station and Paisley Gilmour Street station. These works are continuing under the auspices of the Paisley Corridor Improvements project and are due to be complete early in 2012.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought contributions from stakeholders to the cost of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

Stewart Stevenson: During the progress of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill through the Scottish Parliament in 2006-07 a number of stakeholders including: Glasgow Airport Limited; Glasgow City Council; Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, Renfrew Chamber of Commerce, and Scottish Enterprise were questioned as to whether they would be prepared to make a contribution towards the cost of the project. With the exception of Glasgow Airport Limited’s contribution with respect to the costs of providing a pedestrian link structure from the new airport station to the terminal building none was prepared to contribute.

  Similarly Renfrew Chamber of Commerce’s evidence stated that the airlines then operating from Glasgow airport did not want to contribute to the cost of construction and servicing, as they remained unconvinced about the benefits.

  During its development the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project did however secure co-financing of €1,700,000 from the European Union, trans-European transport network budget, for the purposes of developing the project to the Guide to Railway Investment Projects Level 4 (GRIP Level 4).

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Transport Scotland can request funding for enhancement projects under Network Rail’s Regulatory Asset Base and, if so, whether such a request has been made regarding the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland may request Network Rail to consider the use of Regulated Asset Base finance with the approval of the Office of Rail Regulation for appropriate projects having regard to overall affordability constraints.

  Such finance has been requested and been arranged for the elements of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project which is still being delivered, the Paisley Corridor Improvement Project.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) 10 and under and (b) 11 to 16 have undergone operations under general anaesthetic in hospital in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) type of operation and (ii) NHS board.

Shona Robison: The information requested is not centrally available.

Health

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of rickets were diagnosed and treated in each year from 1999 to 2009 in (a) adults, (b) children aged nought to three, (c) children aged four to 11 and (d) children aged 12 to 16, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: Rickets is a disease of growing bones in children and therefore only affects children.

  Information on the number of children treated in hospital and hospital stays at which a diagnosis of rickets has been recorded are shown in the following table. The information cannot be shown at NHS board level or by age group as there is a risk of patient disclosure due to small numbers.

  The figures presented in table 1 are those with a diagnosis of the condition and presenting for hospital treatment. Patients treated in the community are not included.

  Table 1. Rickets: Numbers of Patients Aged 16 and Under

  

 
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008
 2009


 Stays
 5
 6
 7
 17
 14
 4
 7
 3
 6
 11
 12


 Patients
 5
 3
 7
 5
 9
 3
 5
 3
 6
 8
 10



  Source: Information Services Division Scotland. Scottish Morbidity record 01 (SMR01).

  Notes:

  1. These statistics are derived from data collected on discharges from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric hospitals (SMR01) in Scotland. Data are based on date of discharge.

  2. The basic unit of analysis for these figures is a continuous stay in hospital. Probability matching methods have been used to link together individual SMR01 discharge episodes for each patient, thereby creating "linked" patient histories.

  3. Up to six diagnoses (one principal and five secondary) are recorded on SMR01 returns. All six diagnosis positions have been used to identify rickets diagnoses. The following International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) code has been used to identify rickets: E550 Active rickets.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools in (a) Scotland, (b) East Ayrshire and (c) South Ayrshire have a dedicated school nurse.

Shona Robison: Information on the number of schools in Scotland with a dedicated school nurse is not held by the Scottish Government. However, each school in Scotland has a named nurse with whom the school will liaise on health issues. Figures recently published show an increase of 16% from 2007 to 2009 in the number of whole time equivalent school nurses in Scotland.

  Each of the 17 secondary schools, 89 primary schools and six special educational needs schools in East and South Ayrshire have a named school nurse.

Health

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the demolition work will begin at the site of the new Airdrie health centre.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Full Business Case for the Airdrie Resource Centre was approved by the Scottish Government on 27 January 2010. NHS Lanarkshire is currently developing a detailed programme which will establish the timeframes for both the demolition work and construction work involved in delivering the new health centre. The board expect to have the this information available within the next two weeks.

Health

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when building work on the new Airdrie health centre will commence.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31127 on 4 February 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Health

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the new Airdrie health centre will be opened to the public.

Nicola Sturgeon: The new Airdrie health centre is expected to be open in early 2012.

Health

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all NHS contracts that contain community benefit clauses.

Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for NHS National Procurement to answer and should be referred to:

  Jim Miller, Strategic Sourcing Director NHS National Procurement 2 Swinhill Avenue Canderside Toll Larkhall ML5 2QX.

Higher Education

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage of full-time first degree entrants from national statistics socioeconomic classification groups 4, 5, 6, and 7 combined has been at each higher education institution in each of the last three years for which information is available and what the respective benchmarks were.

Michael Russell: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) annually publishes higher education performance indicators for all higher education institutions in the UK, including the percentage of entrants from low socioeconomic classification groups. The most recently published performance indicators relate to the academic year 2007-08.

  HESA’s performance indicators on the participation of under-represented groups can be found at:

  www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1434&Itemid=141.

  Table T1a contains the percentage of full-time first degree entrants from national statistics socioeconomic classification groups 4, 5, 6 and 7 combined for each Scottish higher education institution alongside the respective benchmarks. Data for earlier years can also be found on HESA’s website.

Higher Education

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage of students not continuing full-time first degree courses beyond the first year has been at each higher education institution in each of the last three years for which information is available and what the respective benchmarks were

Michael Russell: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) annually publishes higher education performance indicators for all higher education institutions in the UK, including the percentage of students not continuing following year of entry. The most recently published performance indicators relate to the academic year 2006-07.

  HESA’s performance indicators on non-continuation rates can be found at:

  www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1438&Itemid=141.

  Table T3a contains the percentage of full-time first degree entrants not continuing following year of entry for each Scottish higher education institution alongside the respective benchmarks. Data for earlier years can also be found on HESA’s website.

Higher Education

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage of full-time first degree entrants from (a) state schools or (b) colleges has been at each higher education institution in each of the last three years for which information is available and what the respective benchmarks were.

Michael Russell: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) annually publishes higher education performance indicators for all higher education institutions in the UK, including the percentage of entrants from state schools or colleges combined. The most recently published performance indicators relate to the academic year 2007-08.

  HESA’s groups performance indicators on the participation of under-represented groups can be found at:

  www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1434&Itemid=141.

  Table T1a contains the percentage of full-time first degree entrants from state schools or colleges combined for each Scottish higher education institution alongside the respective benchmarks. Data for earlier years can also be found on HESA’s website.

Higher Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees of Scottish Enterprise will be affected by the decision to withdraw the Graduates for Business scheme.

Jim Mather: I understand that no Scottish Enterprise employees will be affected by the closure of the Graduates for Business scheme, the administration of which was contracted to Glasgow Opportunities and Midlothian Enterprise Trust.

Higher Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many student places will be lost as a result of the decision to withdraw the Graduates for Business scheme.

Jim Mather: Graduates have participated in a total of 266 projects under the Graduates for Business scheme over the past two years, contributing to the improved performance of a range of Scottish businesses. Scottish Enterprise has confirmed that it plans to have an alternative programme in place by the end of June with improved geographic coverage and consistency and which will deliver even better value for money than its predecessor.

Higher Education

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support universities offering degrees in architecture, built environment and planning following the proposal from the Scottish Funding Council to reduce the funding for these degrees by 22%.

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take given concerns regarding the quality of evidence on which the Scottish Funding Council has based its proposals to reduce funding for architecture, built environment and planning in universities by 22%.

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support relatively specialist degrees such as construction management that could be at risk if the Scottish Funding Council implements its proposals to reduce funding for architecture, built environment and planning in universities by 22%.

Michael Russell: How to allocate funding for teaching in universities is a matter for the Scottish Funding Council, rather than Scottish ministers. We have however ensured that the Funding Council is aware of the views of the professional bodies for architecture, built environment and planning about its proposed reforms for teaching funding. The Chief Executive of the Funding Council met the Scottish Government’s Chief Planner and Chief Architect on 27 January 2010 to discuss this matter.

Homelessness

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given guidance to local authorities on recording data regarding the availability of accommodation for rough sleepers and the extent to which supply matches demand.

Alex Neil: It is for local authorities to plan how best to accommodate the needs of rough sleepers, homeless applicants and waiting list applicants and to consider the availability of appropriate accommodation. Local authorities have developed local housing strategies to respond to local issues. The HL1 form collects data on rough sleeping and homeless applicants which feeds into the analysis carried out by the local authority including its Housing Need and Demand Assessment. This will consider the need for housing supply across all tenures.

Marine (Scotland) Bill

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that all marine renewables and their associated works are legitimate uses of the sea, as referred to in the Marine (Scotland) Bill.

Richard Lochhead: The definition of "legitimate use" of the sea in relation to marine renewables has been the point of discussion at Stage 2 of the Marine (Scotland) Bill. The official report of the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee for 18 November 2009 makes clear the Scottish Government’s consideration that marine renewables are a legitimate use of our seas. The Scottish Government is pleased to confirm that all marine renewables and their associated works could be legitimate uses of the sea.

Marine (Scotland) Bill

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that each non-urgent Marine Protected Area designation will be subject to a 12-week consultation, as referred to in the Marine (Scotland) Bill.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government intention is to consult on non urgent designation orders for a minimum of 12 weeks before the order is intended to be made. However, on occasion it may be necessary to move quicker than this, such as the discovery of a rare species. In such cases flexibility in the consultation period would still allow dialogue with stakeholders to be undertaken as part of the designation process, but on a more urgent basis.

Marine (Scotland) Bill

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a preference for existing users over new users in relation to legitimate uses of the sea, as referred to in the Marine (Scotland) Bill.

Richard Lochhead: The Marine (Scotland) Bill introduces a new framework for marine planning for the first time. Marine planning will provide the tools to resolve conflict and encourage co-operation between all users of the marine area.

Maritime Issues

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with Sail Inverclyde regarding the Tall Ships Races’ 2011.

Fiona Hyslop: EventScotland, the national events agency, has met with representatives from Sail Inverclyde on three occasions to discuss ways in which the Tall Ships Races in 2011 could be supported when the event returns to Scotland, taking place between Greenock and Lerwick.

  These discussions continue, although EventScotland has already committed to invest £25,000 in the "Cruise in Company" leg of the races. This is a non-competitive event with ships sailing from Greenock to Lerwick visiting ports along the Scottish coastline and within Scotland’s island communities.

Media

Mr Frank McAveety (Glasgow Shettleston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with Home Office ministers or officials regarding the impact of A8 nationals on services in local communities.

Fiona Hyslop: Scottish Government officials regularly attend COSLA Strategic Migration Partnership meetings which discuss

  the delivery of services to asylum seekers, refugees and migrant workers in Scotland. This group includes Home Office/UKBA officials and most recently met on 8 December 2009.

Media

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support local newspapers and the cultural contribution that they make to Scotland’s communities.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government values the contribution made by local newspapers to Scotland’s communities and is committed to helping them survive and prosper in a time of immense change for the industry.

  We are paying close attention to the responses we have received to the consultation on the future of Public Information Notices and will pay particular attention to the views expressed by Parliament last week. The consultation closes on 12 February 2010.

  On the same day, Jim Mather will host an event for local newspapers to explore some of the challenges and opportunities which currently confront the sector. In addition, we will, of course, take very serious account of the findings of the inquiry into local newspapers being carried out by the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee.

Mental Health

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when work will begin on the new mental health units in Lanarkshire.

Nicola Sturgeon: Since 2006, £3.79 million capital has been invested by NHS Lanarkshire in service developments across adult; old age; forensic; psychology and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Through the same period an additional £1.7 million in capital has gone into improvements in specialist regional inpatient services, for adolescents (£207,000) and medium secure care (£1.5 million). More than £2.6 million of additional ring-fenced funding has also gone into enhance substance misuse services.

  In addition, two new capital developments to support patients with complex needs will open this year at Coathill Hospital, Coatbridge (£4.9 million) opening in May 2010 and Caird House, Hamilton (£8.14 million) opening in December 2010.

  NHS Lanarkshire’s strategic aim for mental health inpatient services is through the provision of a single integrated inpatient unit in the north and one in the south. The unit in the north was identified in the first tranche of capital development priorities in Lanarkshire and the unit for the south remains in the second tranche. The board remains committed to achieving the strategic aim of delivering a single integrated inpatient facility in the north and in the south and are currently scoping options to maximise the benefits of their planned investment in mental health services.

Ministerial Travel

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which ministerial journeys were made by public transport in 2009 that were made by car in 2008 and what plans there are for similar carbon saving transfers in 2010.

John Swinney: We are unable to make a comparison as ministerial journeys and engagements are not similar year-on-year.

  Our objective is to reduce our overall business travel related emissions by 20% between 2005-06 and 2010-11 and by 40% by 2019-20 against 2005-06 levels.

Ministerial Travel

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, as outlined in the Scottish Ministerial Code, whether it will publish (a) details of all overseas travel undertaken by ministers in 2008-09 and (b) the total costs of such travel in (i) cash and (ii) real terms for the last 10 years.

Fiona Hyslop: The information requested can be found in the following Annexes:

  Annex A - Overseas travel on official business undertaken by Scottish Government ministers during the financial year 2008-09.

  Annex B – The total costs of such travel in cash and real terms for the last 10 years.

  Annex A

  

 Date of Visit
 End Date
  (if different)
 Location
 Event
 Minister(s)
 No. of Officials who travelled
 Cost of Minister’s Travel and Subsistence (£)


 05 April 2008
 12 April 2008
 Beijing/ Shanghai
 The Minister travelled to Beijing/Shanghai to establish links with the Education community to enhance their engagement with Scotland.
 Fiona Hyslop
 5
£5,645.70


 13 April 2008
 14 April 2008
 Luxembourg 
 The Minister travelled to Luxembourg to attend the EU Fisheries Council Meeting.
 Michael Russell
 4
£793.45


 17 April 2008
 18 April 2008
 Luxembourg 
 The Lord Advocate travelled to Luxembourg to attend the JHA Council.
 Lord Advocate
 1
£992.75


 21 April 2008
 21 April 2008
 Athens 
 The Minister travelled to Athens to attend a Meeting with Atticus Group.
 Stewart Stevenson
 1
£1,010.60


 22 April 2008
 24 April 2008
 Brussels 
 The Minister travelled to Brussels to attend the European Seafood Exposition.
 Michael Russell
 3
£1,296.55


 23 April 2008
 23 April 2008
 Brussels 
 The First Minister travelled to Brussels to attend the European Seafood Expo
 First Minister
 2
£1,613.31


 04 May 2008
 06 May 2008
 Munich 
 The Minister travelled to Munich to attend the Munich Planning Exhibition and meet the Bavarian Planning Minister.
 John Swinney
 1
£1,016.84


 19 May 2008
 20 May 2008
 Brussels 
 The Minister travelled to Brussels to attend the DG Maritime Conference.
 Richard Lochhead
 1
 *£0.00


 26 May 2008
 27 May 2008
 Brussels 
 The Minister travelled to Brussels to attend a meeting with ScotRep and with EP Climate Change committee.
 Stewart Stevenson
 1
£332.70


 05 June 2008
 05 June 2009
 Paris 
 The Minister travelled to Paris to attend the Scottish Women’s Hospital Committee Memorial.
 Stewart Maxwell
 0
£558.90


 05 June 2008
 06 June 2008
 Luxembourg 
 The Solicitor General travelled to Luxembourg to attend the JHA Council.
 Frank Mulholland
 2
£841.40


 12 June 2008
 15 June 2008
 Oslo 
 The Minister travelled to Oslo to discuss reintroduction of Beaver/Sea Eagle to Scotland and meet with Norwegian Ministers.
 Michael Russell
 3
£1,206.56


 23 June 2008
 24 June 2008
 Luxembourg 
 The Minister travelled to Luxembourg to attend the Agriculture Council.
 Richard Lochhead
 2
£683.55


 26 June 2008
 28 June 2008
 Barcelona 
 The Minister travelled to Barcelona to speak at ENCORE Conference.
 Michael Russell
 2
£410


 30 June 2008
 31 June 2009
 Paris 
 The Minister travelled to Paris to attend the Commemorative Ceremony for McCrae’s Battalion.
 Stewart Maxwell
 0
£780


 11 July 2008
 14 July 2008
 Dublin 
 The Solicitor General travelled to Dublin to attend the ISRCL Conference.
 Frank Mulholland
 1
£1,544.23


 14 July 2008
 15 July 2008
 Brussels 
 The Minister travelled to Brussels to attend the Agriculture Council.
 Richard Lochhead
 2
£988.04


 23 July 2008
 24 July 2008
 Brussels 
 The Minister travelled to Brussels to attend the Justice and Home Affairs Council.
 Kenneth MacAskill
 1
£526.10


 17 August 2008
 22-August 2008
 Bodo
 The Minister travelled to Bodo to Visit the examining Early Years Initiatives.
 Adam Ingram
 2
£1,344.07


 27 August 2008
 01 September 2008
 Singapore 
 The Lord Advocate travelled to attend and speak at Singapore to attend the International Association of Prosecutors Conference [IAP].
 Lord Advocate
 1
£5,305.56


 04 September 2008
 09 September 2008
 Canada/ New York
 The Minister travelled to the Minneapolis/ St.Paul, Winnipeg and New York to attend events around the unveiling of a Selkirk Settlers statue; promote Homecoming; meetings with Canadian Ministers; renewable energy fact-finding visit; inward investment meetings.
 Michael Russell
 2
£7,072.00


 17 September 2008
 22 September 2009
 Hong Kong
 The Minister travelled to Hong Kong to address Global scot Conference and undertake a programme of events.
 John Swinney
 1
£4,020.38


 19 September 2008
 23 September 2008
 U.S.A
 Ryder Cup Programme There were no direct accommodation costs as these were included in the Scottish Government’s sponsorship package of the Ryder Cup in 2014. Also attended various official engagements in Louisville, Chicago and Kentucky.
 Jim Mather
 4
£4,787.77


 19 September 2008
 19 September 2008
 Amsterdam 
 The Minister travelled to Amsterdam to attend the Euro skills competition / Conference - Rotterdam.
 Maureen Watt
 2
£642.30


 24 September 2008
 25 September 2008
 Brussels 
 The Solicitor General travelled to Brussels to attend the JHA Council.
 Frank Mulholland
 3
£771.52


 28 September 2008
 30 September 2008
 Brussels 
 The Minister travelled to Brussels to attend the Agriculture Council.
 Richard Lochhead
 3
£1,082.05


 03 October 2008
 04 October 2008
 Paris 
 The Lord Advocate travelled to Paris to attend and speak at the Preliminary meeting concerning the Conference of Public Prosecutors at the Supreme Judicial Courts of the Member States of the European Union
 Lord Advocate
 1
£1,004.71


 06 October 2008
 07 October 2008
 Brussels 
 The minister travelled to Brussels to attend meetings with UK Rep’s and MEP’s. The ministers also attended the Celtic Connections Seminar.
 Stewart Stevenson
 1
£535.77


 10 October 2008
 06 October 2008
 Poona 
 The Minister travelled to Poona for the Commonwealth Youth Games.
 Stewart Maxwell
 1
£2,210.52


 12 October 2008
 17 October 2008
 Norway and Russia
 The Minister travelled to Norway to attend Ministerial Meetings on Energy and visited Moscow to support Visit Scotland inward mission to Russia and to speak at an international oil and gas forum.
 Jim Mather
 1
£3,371.16


 12 October 2008
 14 October 2008
 Barcelona 
 The Minister travelled to Barcelona to attend meetings with Catalan Government Ministers, including Vice President. Also undertook other portfolio related engagements.
 Linda Fabiani
 3
£701.10


 16 October 2008
 18 October 2008
 Vienna 
 The Lord Advocate travelled to Vienna to attend the Conference of the Presidents of Supreme Courts, Attorney Generals or Prosecutors General.
 Lord Advocate
 1
£1,397.42


 20 October 2008
 20 October 2008
 Paris 
 The Minister travelled to Paris to attend the SIAL Food Fair.
 Richard Lochhead
 2
£847.80


 23 October 2008
 24 October 2008
 Luxembourg 
 The Minister travelled to Luxembourg to attend the JHA Council.
 Fergus Ewing
 1
£674.25


 23 October 2008
 27 October 2008
 New York
 The Minister travelled to New York where she undertook Cultural engagements in New York including events associated with the National Theatre’s production of Black Watch.
 Linda Fabiani
 3
£3,776.33


 27 October 2008
 27 October 2008
 Trier 
 The Solicitor General travelled to Trier to attend an ERA Meeting.
 Frank Mulholland
 1
£804.90


 27 October 2008
 28 October 2008
 Luxembourg 
 The Minister travelled to Luxembourg to attend the Agriculture Council.
 Richard Lochhead
 3
£853.15


 05 November 2008
 07 November 2008
 Nuremburg
 The Minister travelled to Nuremburg to attend the "Teaching Remembrance’’.
 Maureen Watt
 2
£504.07


 15 November 2008
 17 November 2008
 Warsaw 
 The Minister travelled to Warsaw where she undertook various engagements, included meeting Deputy Polish Cultural Minister; Director of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute; Scottish-Polish Association & British Council Poland. Also attended Caledonian Association.
 Linda Fabiani
 1
£925.43


 17 November 2008
 18 November 2008
 Brussels 
 The Minister travelled to Brussels to attend the Agriculture Council.
 Richard Lochhead
 3
£1,482.50


 07 December 2008
 09 December 2008
 Brussels 
 The Minister travelled to Brussels to attend meetings with Senior staff in Scotland House; meet with British Council representatives; also hosted a reception marking the opening of an Exhibition.
 Linda Fabiani
 2
£844.74


 07 December 2008
 09 December 2008
 Poznan 
 The Minister travelled to Poznan to attend the Climate Change Summit.
 Stewart Stevenson
 1
£491.00


 13 December 2008
 15 December 2008
 Barcelona 
 The First Minister travelled to Barcelona to establish links with Catalonia and attend the Commonwealth Games Legacy meeting
 First Minister
 4
£1,383.05


 19 December 2008
 19 December 2008
 Brussels 
 The Minister travelled to Brussels to attend the Agriculture Council.
 Richard Lochhead
 3
£957.20


 08 January 2009
 03 April 2009
 Barcelona 
 The Minister travelled to Paris to attend the European Alcohol Policy Conference.
 Kenneth MacAskill
 2
£186.42


 21 January 2009
 22 January 2009
 Brussels 
 The Minister travelled to Brussels to speak at the European Parliament Burns Supper.
 Michael Russell
 1
£762.20


 22 January 2009
 27 January 2009
 Toronto/Digby/Halifax
 The Minister travelled to Toronto/Digby/Halifax where he undertook visits in Ontario/Nova Scotia.
 Kenneth MacAskill
 2
£3,867.01


 01 February 2009
 03 February 2009
 Dublin 
 The Minister travelled to Dublin for a Housing & Planning Visit.
 Stewart Maxwell
 2
£605.58


 01 February 2009
 03 February 2009
 Dublin 
 The Minister travelled to Dublin to attend a meeting with Northern Irish Assembly to discuss affordable housing
 Stewart Stevenson
 2
£573.40


 05 February 2009
 06 February 2009
 Paris 
 The Lord Advocate travelled to Paris to attend and speak at the Conference of Public Prosecutors at the Supreme Judicial Courts of the Member States of the European Union
 Lord Advocate
 2
£996.70


 09 February 2009
 09 February 2009
 Brussels 
 The Minister travelled to Brussels with the purpose of the visit being to place Scotland at the heart of discussions on the development of renewable energy and carbon capture & storage as part of European Sustainable Energy Week – the EU’s principal conference
 Jim Mather
 2
£400.20


 22 February 2009
 24 February 2009
 Washington 
 The First Minister travelled to the USA to deliver the keynote address to the Burns symposium. The First Minister also attended a meeting with the US Secretary of State and the launch of the US Senate Friends of Scotland Caucus.
 First Minister
 4
£8,714.17


 26 February 2009
 27 February 2009
 Brussels 
 The Solicitor General travelled to Brussels to attend the JHA Council.
 Frank Mulholland
 2
£775.32


 01 March 2009
 03 March 2009
 Brussels 
 The Minister travelled to Brussels to attend various Meetings with EU Commissioners.
 Michael Russell
 2
£842.94


 04 March 2009
 08 March 2009
 Dubai 
 The Minister travelled to Dubai to attend the Rugby 7’s World Cup and lobby for the next World Cup to be held in Scotland in 2013. Also fact finding visits to sports facilities as comparator for 2014.
 Shona Robison
 1
£4,179.11


 23 March 2009
 24 March 2009
 Brussels 
 The Minister travelled to Brussels to attend the Agriculture Council.
 Richard Lochhead
 1
£996.27


 30 March 2009
 31 March 2009
 Paris 
 The Minister travelled to Paris to attend the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Event.
 John Swinney
 1
£513.27


 30 March 2009
 31 March 2009
 Bonn, Germany
 The Minister travelled to Bonn to attend the UN conference on Education for Sustainable Development.
 Keith Brown
 3
£694.68


 Total
 
 
 
 
 
£92,138.70



  Annex B

  Comparison with Previous Years

  

 Year
 No of Visits
 Cash Terms
 Real Terms Based on UK GDP Deflator
 Average Cost per Visit  
(Real Terms)


 1999-2000
 44
£64,787.64
£80,982.53
£1,841


 2000-01
 55
£117,288.29
£144,705.67
£2,631


 2001-02
 64
£107,340.92
£129,540.23
£2,024


 2002-03
 56
£71,035.92
£83,047.98
£1,483


 2003-04
 51
£66,659.03
£75,794.55
£1,486


 2004-05
 62
£100,524.89
£111,209.94
£1,794


 2005-06
 41
£73, 894.66
£80,251.37
£1,957


 2006-07
 51
£98,818.64
£104,235.77
£2,044


 2007-08
 42
£75,535.33
£77,441.16
£1,844


 2008-09
 59
£92,138.70
£92,138.70
£1,562

NHS Finance

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the capital allocation for NHS Lanarkshire for 2010-11.

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the capital allocation for NHS Lanarkshire will be for 2010-11.

Nicola Sturgeon: The 2010-11 Capital allocations for all NHS boards will be announced by the end of February 2010.

NHS Hospitals

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when work will begin on the refurbishment of Monklands Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Lanarkshire is actively considering the development of the Initial Agreement for the redevelopment of Monklands. The board is already committed to spending £15 million over the next three years to improve Monklands Hospital infrastructure.

Property

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in respect of the regulation of the property management industry.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is working with industry; consumer; local authority, and housing sector stakeholders to establish a national accreditation scheme for residential property managers.

Public Transport

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that all rural communities in Ayrshire are adequately served by public transport.

Stewart Stevenson: Public transport provision is a matter for the local authorities, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and individual transport operators in the first instance.

  The Scottish Government is supporting bus operations in a number of ways, including the promotion of Statutory Quality Partnerships, Punctuality Improvement Partnerships, and the appointment of a Senior Bus Development Advisor. On rail, we are working with First ScotRail to take forward the Rolling Stock Procurement Programme, which will directly improve rail services in Ayrshire.

Rail Services

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive by what date the next franchise agreement for passenger rail services must be in place and how long the tendering process must be.

Stewart Stevenson: The next franchise agreement for passenger rail services must be in place before the expiry of the current franchise, scheduled to be 8 November 2014.

  The timescales for the tendering process must be in accordance with the requirements of the EU Procurement Directives. Typically, such a process will take between one and two years from commencement to completion.

Rail Services

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions ministers or officials have had with (a) ScotRail, (b) East Coast and (c) CrossCountry about the rail service between Glasgow and Edinburgh and onward to England and what action it will take as a consequence.

Stewart Stevenson: I recently held an introductory meeting with the Managing Director of the East Coast Main Line Company during which we discussed the company’s planned changes to service provision on the East Coast Main Line, and the development of the SLC2 timetable.

  Neither Scottish Ministers nor Officials have directly discussed the development of the SLC2 timetable with Arriva Cross Country.

  Responsibility for cross border services rests with the Department for Transport, and we will continue to press the DfT to reconsider additions to the timetable which they have chosen not to include.

  Transport Scotland has asked ScotRail to analyse the proposed East Coast timetable for May 2011 to identify the impact on ScotRail services.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the operation of the trunk road maintenance contracts in light of the recent severe weather and whether it plans to take any action as a result.

Stewart Stevenson: The performance of trunk road operating companies is monitored continually by the independent Performance Audit Group (PAG). During the recent severe weather PAG has been monitoring the delivery of winter service operations across the trunk road network. This monitoring will continue until the end of the winter season in May 2010. The results of this monitoring will be discussed with the operating companies and any recommendations regarding improvements to the delivery of winter service operations will be implemented in the operating companies’ winter service plans for next year.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the transfer of freight from road to rail in Ayrshire.

Stewart Stevenson: My officials are in regular discussion with all the main rail operators about rail freight opportunities throughout Scotland, including Ayrshire. We operate three rail freight mode shift grant schemes which encourage the transfer of freight from road to rail.

School Transport

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities place an age restriction on vehicles used for school transport.

Keith Brown: This information is not collected centrally. There is no age restriction on vehicles provided they are roadworthy. All buses are checked annually by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and, in between these annual checks, operators are legally obliged to regularly check their vehicles to ensure their roadworthiness.

Schools

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, of the 251 new schools referred to in the SNP press release of 25 January 2010, SNP build more schools than promised, how many were planned or under construction prior to May 2007.

Michael Russell: Given normal lead-in times for major capital projects, it is not unexpected that planning and construction began on a number of the 251 schools prior to May 2007. This was the same situation faced by the first Scottish Executive administration. Of the school projects completed during the first administration’s term of office, over half were pre-devolution projects.

  Responsibility for funding those projects fell largely upon the first Executive administration, just as responsibility for paying for most of the 260 projects has fallen on this government.

Schools

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the First Minister’s statement, as reported in The Scotsman on 26 January, that "The Scottish Government has surpassed its pledge to deliver at least 250 new or refurbished schools", whether it will publish a list of those 251 projects, broken down by (a) local authority area, (b) date that construction commenced, (c) date that the work was completed, (d) date that the outline business case was made and (e) procurement method.

Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28634 on 16 November 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  In addition to the 236 new or refurbished school projects completed since May 2007 which were published in response to S3W-28634, we are aware of 24 new or refurbished school projects which have been completed since August 2009, listed in the table below.

  

 Local Authority
 School
 Procurement method
 Construction Start Date
 Completion or occupation Date


 Aberdeen City
 Bucksburn Community Campus
 NPD
 October 2007
 October 2009


 
 Cults Academy
 NPD
 October 2007
 October 2009


 Edinburgh City
 Forrester’s High
 PPP
 April 2007
 January 2010


 
 St Augustine’s RC High
 PPP
 April 2007
 January 2010


 
 Tynecastle High
 PPP
 April 2007
 January 2010


 Glasgow
 Quarrybrae Primary
 Other
 Nov 2007
 October 2009


 
 St Vincent’s Primary
 Other
 August 2007
 Jun 2009


 Perth and Kinross
 Strathearn Campus
 PPP
 January 2008
 Nov 2009


 
 Loch Leven Community Campus
 PPP
 February 2008
 October 2009


 
 Inchview Primary
 PPP
 January 2008
 October 2009


 Scottish Borders
 Earlston High 
 PPP
 March 2007
 August 2009


 
 Lauder Primary
 Other
 August 2008
 December 2009


 South Lanarkshire
 Biggar High 
 PPP
 July 2007
 August 2009


 
 Hamilton Grammar
 PPP
 January 2008
 August 2009


 
 Larkhall Academy
 PPP
 July 2007
 August 2009


 
 Stonelaw Academy
 PPP
 January 2008
 August 2009


 
 Strathaven Academy
 PPP
 July 2007
 August 2009


 
 Trinity High 
 PPP
 July 2007
 August 2009


 West Dunbartonshire
 Clydebank High 
 PPP
 January 2008
 August 2009


 
 St. Peter the Apostle High 
 PPP
 January 2008
 August 2009


 
 Vale of Leven Academy
 PPP
 January 2008
 August 2009


 West Lothian
 Deans Community High 
 PPP
 August 2007
 September 2009


 
 James Young High
 Other
 April 2008
 September 2009


 
 St Kentigern’s Academy
 Other
 March 2008
 September 2009

Scottish Government

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list every regulation identified by each directorate and submitted to the regulatory review group

Jim Mather: Regulations are not submitted by Scottish Government directorates to the Regulatory Review Group. The Regulatory Review Group is an independent industry led group which advises the Scottish Government on all aspects of better regulation. Its remit includes:

  resolving specific problems and regulations that are causing business concerns;

  formulating a strategic approach and developing processes to improve the regulatory landscape, and

  acting as an independent and informed monitor, helping to co-ordinate, review and judge the Scottish Government and its regulatory agencies’ Better Regulation performance.

Teachers

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers have received Modern Languages in the Primary School training in each year from 2001, broken down by local authority.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors the number of teachers receiving Modern Languages in the Primary School training.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government does not collect information on the numbers of teachers receiving modern languages in the primary school training. However, we do engage closely with interested parties, particularly through meetings of the COALA (Cultural Organisations and Local Authority Advisers) network, which brings together local authority quality improvement officers with a focus on modern languages and a range of other organisations. This gives us regular opportunities to hear directly about issues in relation to modern languages in primary schools, including training, and to discuss developments.

  In addition the Scottish Government provides annual funding to Learning and Teaching Scotland, the Scottish Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research, and British Council Scotland to help primary and secondary teachers engage fully with the expectations for modern languages within Curriculum for Excellence, one of which is that schools will offer a modern language beginning no later than primary six.

Teachers

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers are considering the inclusion of a compulsory modern languages component in initial teacher training.

Michael Russell: The implementation of Curriculum for Excellence will increasingly make different demands on Scotland’s teachers and it is timely that we consider whether our existing arrangements for teacher education and development are best suited to developing the flexible, creative, learner centred teachers we need in the longer term; that is why we have set up the Donaldson Review.

  The out-going Senior Chief Inspector of HMIE has been commissioned to conduct a wide ranging review of teacher education and development. The review will start later this month and report towards the end of the year.

  The scope of the review will be wide - nothing has been ruled out. The Scottish Ministers will consider the review’s recommendations in due course.

Transport

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still uses the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance and, if so, in what circumstances.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26065 on  13 August 2009 . All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Transport

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is regarding the sustainability of acccessing Glasgow Airport (b) by road only in the medium term and (b) at Junction 28 if it exceeds its predicted design capacity in 2015.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is responsible for maintaining an efficient transport system, and is committed to delivering transport interventions that will most effectively contribute towards our purpose of promoting sustainable economic growth.

  We will introduce measures into the planning, operation and maintenance of our trunk road network, including the M8, to ensure that our transport system continues to adapt to climate change and addresses future demand.

  In addition, we are working with the airport and its stakeholders to deliver the airport’s existing surface access strategy (2009-13) and the targets it sets.

Voluntary Sector

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports a greater role for the voluntary sector in delivering public services.

John Swinney: We are committed to providing high-quality public services and recognise the important role of the third sector in their delivery. We are working with partners in the public sector and the third sector to ensure that the way in which services are commissioned, including the application of community benefit clauses, leads to the best possible services for those that need them.

Waste Management

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether awards to local authorities from the Zero Waste Fund are intended to be used only to make progress toward meeting the 2013 Landfill Directive.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £547,000 awarded to East Ayrshire Council from the Zero Waste Fund can be used for any purpose other than making progress toward meeting the 2013 Landfill Directive.

Richard Lochhead: East Ayrshire have been awarded a total of £674,000 for 2010-11 from the Scottish Government for Zero Waste, this includes the Zero Waste Operational Grant, Zero Waste Capital Grant and the consolidated funding from the former Strategic Waste Fund. Funding to local authorities is no longer ring-fenced and local authorities have the flexibility to allocate resources on the basis of local needs and priorities. As landfill tax continues to increase and doing nothing will cost local authorities more both environmentally and financially, I would encourage them to use Zero Waste funding for the purpose for which it was intended.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Transport

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S3W-30709 by Alex Fergusson on 21 January 2010, how many individual journeys to mainland United Kingdom destinations for which it has paid in each of the last three years have been made by (a) air, (b) rail, (c) coach, and (d) private car

Tom McCabe: To extract the information, and to provide it in the format required by the member, would be disproportionate in costs. However, the member is invited to contact the Allowances Office to see whether it can be of some other assistance.

Transport

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S3W-30709 by Alex Fergusson on 21 January 2010, how many individual journeys to Eurostar destinations for which it has paid in each of the last three years have been made by (a) air, (b) rail, (c) coach, and (d) private car.

Tom McCabe: To extract the information, and to provide it in the format required by the Member, would be disproportionate in costs. However, the member is invited to contact the Allowances Office to see whether it can be of some other assistance.